Intro: This is a huge weekend in sports for marquee games: Friday, The NBA regular-season debut of the Celtics' "Big Three." Saturday, college football's Game of the Year, arguably. Sunday, the NFL Game of the Year. In today's Quickie post, we'll start with college football, hit the NFL preview, recap last night's NBA and then get into everything else you want/need/have to know for today, including Bonds' boycott, Torre's intro, Hingis' "retirement" and more...

CFB Preview and Picks: ArizonaState at Oregon, in both foresight and hindsight, may turn out to be the Game of the Year in college football.

If ArizonaState wins, they claim the biggest single win of the season by any contending team. They also deserve consideration as a Top 2 team.

If Oregon wins, they claim the biggest single win of the season by any contending team, to go along with wins over Michigan (more impressive now than then) and USC, with only that fumbled-away loss to Cal (looks worse now than then). They would arguably become the top one-loss team in the country and arguably deserve consideration as a Top 2 team.

(If the season ended today, OhioState and BC would play for the national championship, and the two best teams in the country -- LSU and Oregon -- would not.)

To get you to that 6:40 ET kickoff, I recommend you check out LSU at Alabama at 3:30. LSU playing for a very quality BCS-impacting win -- not to mention the SEC West lead (and perhaps division title). Oh, and there's a little thing about Saban vs. his old team...

The Picks:1 Ohio State over 21 Wisconsin2 Boston College over FloridaState17 Alabama over 3 LSU (Upset Special!)5 Oregon over 4 Arizona State (Game of the Week)6 Oklahoma over Texas A&M (BCS Impact Game)8 Kansas over Nebraska (Unbeaten Game)9 Missouri over Colorado10 Georgia over Troy12 Michigan over MichiganState13 Connecticut over Rutgers (Intriguing)15 Texas over OklahomaState16 Auburn over Tennessee TechCincinnati over 18 South Florida19 USC over OregonState20 Florida over Vanderbilt22 Boise State over San JoseState24 Wake Forest over 23 Virginia25 Clemson over Duke

Last Night: Virginia Tech rebounded from that season-gutting loss to BC by throttling Georgia Tech in Atlanta. (Sorry: Should have totally mentioned the VT players' jerseys going missing, with Sean Glennon wearing a white GT jersey with his name HANDWRITTEN on the back. Seriously, did they need to add his name in this instance?)

NFL Preview and Picks: Here are my Top 5 Most Intriguing Storylines for the Weekend:

1. Pats-Colts2. Pats-Colts3. Pats-Colts4. Pats-Colts5. Pats-Colts

I started out doing that list tongue-in-cheek and planned to fill in five more (real) storylines, but then I reconsidered: This IS the Game of the Year in the NFL, the true barometer of how far ahead of the rest of the league the Patriots are. Nationally, everything else is totally eclipsed.

49ers over at FalconsBengals over at BillsBroncos over at LionsPanthers over at TitansPackers over at ChiefsChargers over at VikingsJags over at SaintsRedskins over at JetsCards over at BucsSeahawks over at BrownsPats over at Colts (by 30+)Texans over at RaidersCowboys over at EaglesSteelers over Ravens (MNF)

(You read that right: I pick every road team playing on Sunday to win.)

NBA Tonight: Celtics' Big Three debut against my Wizards. I (with every other lazy bandwagoneer) have picked the Celtics to win the East this season, although I don't think many others agreed with me in picking Kevin Garnett as the runaway NBA MVP.

"Big Three's" are the new hotness in the NBA, and it's not like the Wizards have a weak Big Three of their own (Arenas, Butler, Jamison). Gilbert guaranteed victory a few months ago in his blog. We'll see...

NBA Last Night: Tracy McGrady tops Kobe for individual season high with 47... The Pistons' Tayshaun Prince (career-high 34 pts, 12 reb) isn't being traded anywhere... Kevin Durant scored 27 in his second game, displaying a quick ride up a steep learning curve... You can book Comeback Player of the Year right now: Grant Hill (13 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast)...

Barry Bonds will boycott Baseball Hall of Fame...: ...If they display his 756 ball with the asterisk branded onto it. "There is no such thing as an asterisk in baseball." I can see his point -- many baseball purists who loathe Bonds agreed that so-called populist branding of the ball was an insult to the game and its fans.

But now that it's done, and the HOF is in a position where they HAVE to display a ball of such historic importance, why would he make a fuss? He even said he'd skip his induction ceremony. (Anyone who argues that Bonds won't get into the Hall of Fame should be reminded: Crack is wack.)

Dodgers hire Joe Torre: I'm sure the Dodgers are excited, given Torre's track record and the fact that he's one of only a few managers in baseball who brings buzz with him -- especially because this is an NL pennant that is wide open for the taking. (I can only imagine the lure of the Dodgers for an old Brooklynite like Torre. I used to go jogging right past the old Torre house.)

(Meanwhile, I kind of like that Joe Girardi has chosen No. 27 as his uniform number; that's the number of titles the Yankees will have won... as soon as Girardi wins one.)

Tennis Scandal: I put this on my still-evolving Twitter feed yesterday afternoon, but is it wrong that I find Martina Hingis WAY more interesting now, just as she is -- sniff -- retiring.

Kobe Trade Watch: Bulls GM John Paxson says that Kobe won't be going to the Bulls, which is either a feint – or it really looks like Kobe won't be going anywhere. You know the Lakers won't trade him within the West, and no other East team seems to have the pieces to get Kobe to give up the no-trade clause.

(I'd dispute that: If the Nets offered Vince Carter AND Richard Jefferson, don't you think the Lakers would be better off? Meanwhile, Kobe could play with Jason Kidd and big man Nenad Krstic in a major market in the East, and the Nets would be better off, too.)

More reasonably, it's time for the Lakers to recognize that between Kobe and Phil, it's time to play to win now. Trade promising young center Andrew Bynum and get a win-now talent in return.

Soccer: Carlos Valderrama gets the prize for best ref-arguing skills. The former star turned assistant coach was ejected from a game for arguing with a ref... by waving cash in his face. Can't wait for the first NBA fan sitting courtside to try the same thing.

I feel incredibly bad for Andy Reid, whose son obviously has massive problems. That said: Without being overly proscriptive, it seems awkward at this point that he would continue coaching the Eagles, when his family is so obviously messed up. Cripes, the judge called Reid's home a "drug emporium."

Congrats to Pro Football Talk on its seven-year anniversary. In what might be the biggest news to hit the sports blogosphere of the year, PFT announced what many of its long-time fans have been waiting for: Permalinks on all individual Rumor Mill posts, along with (gasp) an RSS feed. Can't wait for that.

(I really like the new PFT logo, too. Hmm: Maybe it's time for a DanShanoff.com logo. Sorry, an NBA- or MLB-style silhouette of me slurping other bloggers isn't feasible.)

139 comments:

Dan, The reason BC and OSU would be playing in the National Championship instead of Oregon or LSU if the season ended today is simple they have not lost a game and both play in a major conference. Would LSU and Oregon beat either OSU or BC on a neutral field maybe but that is not the point. An since there is no playoff system we will never find out.

Do you think I could get Andy Reid to adopt me? Truth be told his son is seriously SERIOUSLY fucked. If he is suitcasing that many pills into jail his problem is way worse than people realize. I have had to detox unwillingly in jail and it is worse than every other bad experience combined in my life. I don't envy the next few weeks of that kids life. Still if it were you or I in the same situation we wouldn't be getting such an easy sentence especially after he messed up awaiting trial.

How can you call LSU one of the top 2 teams in the Nation in the same post where you predict them to lose this week-end? The best team in the nation cannot have 2 losses. Most talented - maybe, but clearly not the best. As, they would not have been the best team on the field twice in the same season? Having said that, I still think LSU wins this week-end. Any team that lost to Florida State cannot beat LSU.

And, I do not think that Arizona State at Oregon is the biggest game of the season. Neither of those teams will win out. Oregon has the better chance, but they have to win this week-end to keep that alive. Arizona State loses to USC later, and Oregon loses at UCLA.

So if Martina Hingis and either of Reid sons were to have a child would it be me?

I must be on some good drugs I am actually betting against the Gators this weekend. I got an idiot to give me 21 points. Vandy always keeps it close. Buster Olney might have a stroke if they win.

I know some of yall hate my weird personal experience stories but I got a great one today. I have a court hearing over the phone this morning to get my drivers license back. I haven't had one since I was 18( 15 yrs ago). If I can impress a judge as to why I need a license I might actually get one. I have never gotten a DUI never gotten a speeding ticket and never been in an accident yet I didnt pay a ticket for a taillight being out on time when I was 18 and it snowballed. 13 driving without a licenses later here I am. If I get it back it will be the equivalent of stanford beating USC. I even have a bookie friend back home who is taking action among my friends on whether or not I get it back. I got better odds of winning the lotto. Speaking of which here is the judge calling now

The Gopher basketball team kicked off their exhibition season last night with a decent win. The most intruiging story for them is if Tubby can land one of the two guys his is looking at (names escape me) the Gophers with have a TOP 5 recruiting class for '08. I am sorry but I am just excited that we might actually be relevant in the Big Ten and maybe the nation again soon.

08 could be very good for the entire Big Ten. We have another stud class as well coming in next year, and we SHOULD win the Big Ten this year. Indiana is getting better even with the idiot that is Kelvin Sampson, OSU will still be good, Wisconsin will be competitive, and I hate to say it but I think Beilin is going to make Michigan a relevent team once again. Screw football, were a basketball conference now!

unfortunately I haven't been in storrs daily for three years, I miss the days being on campus for sure

The UConn basketball team is hit or miss this season, they are basically the same exact team back from a year ago when they struggled, but obviously with an extra year of experience. I think the key to the season is AJ Price (yes of the stealing laptops). He missed a year due to almost dying then another year due to stealing and last year he played poorly, but he's a top PG if he can get back to form. Jeff Adrian is a double double machine underneath. If the 7'3" Hasheem Thabeet can improve offensively, they could surprise some people in the Big East, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I think they can get into the NCAAs as a 7-10 seed. We'll see.

Actually she will still read it. I can thank this site for showing her the power a woman has over a man. They can take a guy that graduates from one college and turn him into a homer for another (that she didn't even attend) just because they have cute uniforms or something like that. It also teaches her that it is ok to be wrong 60% or more of the time. So thank you Dan for being Baby Daddy #2 for my sweet little Ava.

The Patriots are having an unbelievable season and are having good luck along the way. Just watch out for the game that luck runs out. I don't believe it's possible for a team to go 16-0 in today's NFL and I expect that, if not this week, sometime there will be chinks in their armor - I'm not aware of any significant injuries for them. It helps that they play in the sorry AFC East.

Sparty, don't forget Purdue, they have a great class of freshman coming in this year, and while they may struggle this season, as sophomores I expect they'll be contenders for a Big 10 championship. Matt Painter has them back playing hard-nosed, defensive Purdue style basketball.

The Colts are the new Patriots winning by controlling the tempo of the game and tough defense, while the Patriots are the new Colts, all stats and offense and a soft defense. That's right I called their defense soft. The Colts have beaten them 3 straight, both teams have unstoppable offenses, but the Colts now have a better defense than the Patriots and it's at Indy. Colts win this week, then turn around and lose at San Diego next week.

Dan, making picks like this week where you pick every single road team is why you always suck at picking games. I guess when you usually go 4-10 you lose a bit of perspective.

That Reid blurb should have read "sons". Yes, both of his kids (Brit and Garrett) got sentenced to jail yesterday. Both for separate drug related offenses that happened on the SAME DAY. Jan 20th was a bad day for the Reid family.

I can only think one thing, that Andy is taking a tough love stance, he's letting these kids hit rock bottom and hope they clean themselves up.

Anyway, this whole incident is distracting him from his job, and while that isn't an excuse for the Eagles poor performance this season, it can't help any.

Wow Garrett Reid had 57 suboxone. It only took me six of those pills over a month of tapering to kick. Clear indication that he was just trying to get through his time so he could get back on it when he got off. I never understand why they say high on heroin since you are anything but high. More like down on heroin.

Gotta wait four more years to get a license what a bunch of horseshit.

I realize that NE-IND is a matchup of unbeatens, but it doesn't mean much in the long term. They're both going to the playoffs so what's the big deal? Wait until they play in January to make a fuss. Aren't CLE-SEA or PIT-BAL more important because they could be bubble teams fighting for playoff spots? At the end of the season, won't these games matter more?

Dan, if you tout college football's current regular season structure as the ultimate playoffs, you can't complain that two teams that lost aren't going to play in a championship game over two teams that haven't lost.

Let's say for the sake of argument that the top 4 win out. What are the chances that Oregon and/or LSU are placed above BC and/or OSU? If that happens, it will be the end of NCAA football as a credible competition. And I can say specifically that if BC were to drop out of the top 2 it will be because of the human polls who delude themselves to believe that the SEC and Pac10 (didn't a Pac10 team lose to ND) are superior to the Big10 and the ACC.

Also, to the commenter who said that "the Pats luck will run out", against which team did they get the luck to push them to victory. New England have put a beatdown on every team that they've played and it will continue this weekend. Perhaps Indy's defense is slightly better than New England's, but New England's offense is unstoppable.

The BIGGER deal is not the 16-0. It's the HFA in the AFC Championship because whoever comes out of this undefeated will have that (expected) 1-game lead over the other at season's end. Arguably these could both be just 1-loss teams at the end of the regular season, so the head-to-head comes in to play.

And look at last season's result in the AFC Championship in Indy. Then look at the Pats' playoff wins vs. Indy (in Foxboro). HFA iS HUGE for these 2 teams when they play each other.

Of course, I still reminisce over Willie McGinest's stuff of Edgerrin James several years ago in the RCA Dome to seal a win (that ultimately propelled the Pats to HFA). Of course, that was not a playoff game, but it had major ramifications.

All i really have to add is that Martina Hingis was always the tennis player I most wanted to fornicate with.

These independent drug testing labs...i dunno...I have a hard time trusting them since they only seem to release negative news when someone is on the rise. Hingis' comeback had been looking good..then wham. Along with how badly these companies botch things with cyclists... grain of salt, grain of salt.

You have to admit though that Hingis retiring amidst these allegations is pretty sketchy.

I can sort of understand not wanting to go through the scrutiny and legal battles, and that, on your second time around as a pro after 1 comeback, to rebound mentally and "bring it" tournament after tournament might be tough (though Hingis always impressed me as pretty hard around the edges).

But, really, retire? Seems like sidestepping to me. But I will reserve judgment on her until all the facts are in.

I was kidding. My daughter is only 2 1/2 so I am more worried about her drinking something with a Mr Yuck sticker on it than anything on here. Well maybe that and anything that Sparty and fake cmfost writes.

I liked how Hingis said that there was no way someone could do blow and play tennis then say that she has never done any drugs. How would she know if you could play while on Coke unless she tried it. Plus with as quick as blow gets out of your system especially after physical exertion I think it has to be an error on the labs part. I know that I have had to take drug tests before getting a job and smoke don the way to the test and still passed so there is no way they are reliable.

I am right there with you Rafael about wanting to get my man wet with Hingis. She was one hot little Swiss miss. Still she is no Dawn Buth.

The thing with either Indy or the Pats going undefeated is that it really wont matter if either of them don't make the SB. I will laugh my ass off if one of them doesn't lose then loses to a team like Cleveland in the playoffs. That would be fucking hysterical.

Again joking. I know you and CM check and post regularly so you were easy targets.

I really want either NE or Indy to go undefeated because I am so sick of the smug @sses in Miami. It is like hearing about the curse of The Babe every year. I am glad that is over too. Please, please put that to rest.

Regarding the hot tennis player debate- it's all the hormone injections in foods like milk and eggs and beef. Children (including these tennis pros) are maturing so much faster than previous generations that the younger stars entering sports (or other celebrity avenues) already have more sex appeal to start.

It's not just tennis (or athletes). My wife is a high school teacher, and my god, you have to see the ridiculous social cultures among high school girls now- between looks, dress, and physical maturity, it's scary what these young teens display.

I say this as a concerned parent of 3 young children and have actually (to start) begun switching to organic dairy products for my kids long-term health. It's become scientific fact that kids are physically maturing faster because of hormone-supplemented foods.

OK, enough of the classroom lecture... back to your regularly scheduled commenting.

Damn skippy. Put my son who is 18 months (eating all kinds of hormone injected food) next to my friends son who is only a week apart in age (all organic foods). I swear my son looks about an entire year older.

I'm so pumped for this game. I thought my excitement last week for the home game I'd be at (plus tailgating) for Cal couldn't be topped. It has 1000000 fold. I think it's going to be tough for my Devils to go into Autzen (though not as powerful of a place as Oregon fans claim) and pull it out but it can happen. Our LBs and secondary need to play out of our mind. Our WRs can dissapear. Imagine a big day out of Brent Miller. I figure Oregon could probably run 80 quick WR screens and score 40 tds though. ASU always has problems with those.

And for the Suns,Grant Hill needs to improve that three point shooting. He's going to have tons of open looks, and 1-7 is not going to cut it. Nash doesn't deserve to be on any Stud lists with all the turnovers he had. Ugly game by the Suns.

Considering I'm a gambling man, and the line had moved 2 full poiunts from Pats (-4) to Pats (-6) since Sunday, I'm inclined to make a bold move here and parlay the Pats' Money Line with the Colts (+6). I really see one of two things happening:

1) Pats' in a complete blow-out, payback for the AFC Title game type of situation, with a final in the 41-17 range, or...

2) Very, very close game, the type we'll be talking about and disecting for a full week, but still Pats 37-35ish...

Either way, both defenses are going to be beat up and tired, and look really bad. At least the Pats have a bye next week.

37-3 is my prediction. I think the Patriots are out to prove a point this season and they are going to want to not only beat Indy but humiliate them. Also do not underestimate how important having Harrison and Seymour playing in this game is.

Did you know that the Patriots have never lost a game to the Colts when Rodney Harrison has started and finished the game?

In the wake of the camera scandal with the Patriots earlier this year, you mentioned you were very disappointed. Do you still feel that way?

“No, I don’t think it was an advantage. It’s just disappointing to me whenever anything comes out and the public perception of the game gets hurt. Whether it’s us doing it or anybody else, and not because it was the Patriots doing it, but anything, because our game is on top right now and we have a great thing going and you want to keep it going.

I'm honestly more interested in the 0-16 race than 16-0 because it seems even more impossible and definitely more extrodinary.

16-0 is rare (mostly) because teams that far ahead usually rest people AND because all the teams they play are gunning for them. 0-16 is so much harder to accomplish because teams are resting and slacking against you, so it should be easy to catch someone off guard one week and come away with at least 1 win.

We've had 8-0 13-0 7-0 and all kinds of variations of undefeated in past seasons its not rare for teams to make runs but whens the last time we had not just one but TWO teams (including one many people picked to win the West) racing towards the ultimate in futility?

It's like Dan picking his crazy upsets and then bragging when one finally hits. You also picked the Red Sox to sweep the Indians. I guess you're choosing to ignore that along with the fact that you gave up on the team when they were down 3-1.

If you're right about 37-3 (or even close), I'll be the first one to give you credit on Monday morning. I wouldn't even fault you for picking a big Pats win in a high scoring game. But picking the Colts to score only 3 points is blind homerism.

Nobody has come close to holding this Colts team to 3 points in the last 5 years, if not longer.

The problem is you always make a homer pick. You picked a sweep against the Tribe also, then bailed on your team when they got down 3-1. You don't really get to flaunt it when you finally get a pick right when you constantly make a homer pick.

Verbal you are crazy. Arsenal will win 2-0. That team might even be better than the undefeated team a few years back.

OH and to whoever questioned the greatest rivalries in all of sports it is a no brainer Celtic Rangers. There is at least one murder related to every game plus religion gets involved. It has been a rivalry longer than any of the ones in American sports. If you get a chance to go to a game and dont want to get your ass kicked wear the claret and orange of my team Motherwell FC.

If you want to really know what the key to Sunday's game is, it's if the Colts run the ball at least 30 times they will win. They've won their last 26 games when they've run at least 30 times dating back to the first game of 2004 including 2 wins over New England and all 4 playoff victories last year. If Manning has to throw the ball all over the field and they stop running the ball the Colts will lose.

Which came first -- the running attack or the victory? It's such a skewed statistic. I would bet that most of those 30 runs per game are in late game clock burn duty. Even at the game in Foxboro last year (regular season), the Colts ran much more in the 2nd half to shorten the game with the lead.

Kinda like the statistics in Pittsburgh with Parker running for 100+ yards. Sometimes, his 100 yards creates the win. Usually, his 100+ is a product of holding on to the lead and shortening the game.

Teams don't run 30+ times for over 100 yards when they are behind the whole game!

natsfan I do agree it can be a chicken or egg type of thing, but in the Colts win over the Patriots in the playoffs last year they continued to run the ball even when they were down 18 and ended up with 30 rushes, so it's not like they were just protecting the lead every game of those 26. And actually in the regular season game against the Patriots last year they did not rush 30 times.

But team executives were told, sources say, that in order to arrange a meeting with Rodriguez, they would have to be prepared to make an extension offer that would take the third baseman's deal up to a total value of $350 million. That means that the offer the Yankees intended to propose would have been more than $100 million short.

Because the weather at Va Tech was so great. People seem to neglect/forget that BC has a great defense. Given FSU's sputtering offense my having them get to 13 points was generous. Plus, who do you think will have more difficulty with the below 50 degree weather, a team from Boston or a team from Tallahassee? BC will win and it won't be close.

but Voice there is a much larger sample of games that Rodney could of played in against the Colts versus the number of games Addai could of played in versus the Patriots. So it is not a equal comparison.

Believe what you want, in some ways we are all homers and we all have trouble picking against our teams. Be it College or Pro, Does that make you a bad person? No Does it mean you know nothing about sports? No What it means you like your team and sometimes you may embellish your pick because of it.

Do I think the Patriots are going to win? Yes Do I think they are going to win big? Yes Do I think the Colts will be held to 3 points? probably not but it could happen and that is why they play the games.

Hey it does get cold in Tally. I think FSU does better in the cold than a team farther south like UF would. I think FSU wins because they are used to playing in hurricanes. Plus you guys will only get the outer bands up there. You have to be total pussies to let something weak like that affect you.

Ok, clearly I'm alone on BC winning. But if running successfully = winning, can someone please tell me how the 92nd ranked rushing offense is going to move the ball against the 2nd best rushing defense? Nevermind that BC is also playing AT HOME.

@verbaljust throwing this out there, the average rush offense BC has played is 90 (that's not even including Umass' 73rd ranked rushing offense in FCS/I-AA). it's easy to stop the run against teams that can't.

bkelly, point taken...however, 13th ranked rush offense GT ran for just 63 yards against BC. Plus, FSU is 92nd in rush offense, so again, is there reason to believe that FSU will be able to run the football effectively?

Also, while teams have gained yardage in the passing game, BC is 16th in pass efficiency defense overall, and are tied with UConn for most interceptions.

These stats to me suggest that BC won't have a problem with FSU's 75th ranked offense.

I agree with you verbal, Florida St. just isn't relevenat anymore until Bowden retires and they're able to challenge Florida for in-state recruiting again. They're much more likely to lose at Maryland who although isn't all that good either alway seems to pull one or two unexpected upsets a year.

agreed bkelly, people just think Florida St. and Miami and think that must be their 2 best chances to lose but those 2 just aren't good anymore. Losses at Maryland or Clemson, despite not having the name of the former 2 are FAR more likely.

Yes, because using my own name, one of the top 5 most popular names in America is soooooo original, and also because I totally give a shit I'll get right on that request and change my name on here right away! Also congratulations on finding the Enter key, you're awesome.

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DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.